A north Cumbrian firm has raised more than £5,000 for the Jigsaw children’s hospice appeal.
Jill Glencross Funeral Directors in Dalston were one of 25 businesses and organisations which received a Christmas tree to spread some festive cheer and support the hospice as part of its #AJigsawChristmas campaign.
People are encouraged to visit their nearest tree, make a donation in person or online, snap a selfie and share it using the #AJigsawChristmas hashtag. If you can’t get to one of the trees, people can take a selfie with their own decorations and donate online.
The donations inspired by Jill Glencross’ tree passed £5,000 by Monday afternoon.
She said: “We were absolutely thrilled to receive our tree which has been an amazing success both for Jigsaw and also our families. My own dad’s bauble was the first to go on the tree.
“It has been such a special memorial for people all over.”
The 12ft trees were donated by the Rotary Club of Carlisle with the aim of highlighting the fact that Jigsaw is the only children’s hospice in the county.
Jigsaw is based in Durdar Road, Carlisle and offers day-to-day care, support and activities to children and young people living with a life-limiting illness from across Cumbria and south west Scotland.
Sixty four per cent of children and families they support come from the rest of Cumbria.
Another of those to receive a tree in the Carlisle area was St Michael’s Church in Dalston whose vicar Ben Phillips said: “Jigsaw do such important work that we really want to support. The tree is being decorated by all our community, young and old as part of Christmas celebrations.”
The trees were delivered by builders firm Taylor Wimpey.
Production assistant James Harvey said: “As soon as I heard about Jigsaw’s Christmas project, I was more than happy to step in to help deliver the Christmas trees across the region.
“The work that the hospice does is really invaluable, and I’m really proud to have contributed in some way to help spread the word.”
For more information about #AJigsawChristmas, to make a donation or to find your local tree visit https://www.jigsawhospice.org/support-us/ajigsawchristmas
